Instructions
Model HF5B
Butternut presents the model HF5B BUTTERFLY compact beam antenna for the 10, 12, 15, 17, and 20
meter amateur bands! With elements only 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) long and a turning radius under 7 ft (2.1 m), it
presents a low profile that allows it to be used in areas where other beam antennas would be restricted.
High-efficiency design and broad-band BUTTERFLY elements deliver performance expected only in
much larger designs.
SPECIFICATIONS
WINGSPAN:
BOOM LENGTH:
TURNING RADIUS: 6 ft 11 in (2.1 m)
VERTICAL SPREADERS: 6 ft (1.8 m)
SHIPPING WEIGHT: 22 lbs (10 kg)
FEED POINT IMPEDANCE:
VSWR AT RESONANCE: 1.5:1 or less on all bands
POWER RATING: 1200 W PEP
WIND LOADING: 3 ft2 (.3 m2)
WIND SURVIVAL:
BANDWIDTH:
GAIN: 3+ dBd 20 meters, up to 5 dBd other bands except 17 meters where
FRONT-TO-BACK:
FRONT-TO-SIDE:
TUNING SYSTEM: No traps; entire element length active on all bands; no tuner required.
MINIMUM RECOMMENDED
HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND: 30 ft (9.1 m)
12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)
6 ft (1.8 m)
Nominal 50 ohms. Includes RF connector for direct connection to any
length feed line terminated in PL-259
80 mph (129 kph)
VSWR 2:1 or less 1.5 MHz on 10 meters; entire band on 12, 15 and
17 meters; 200 kHz on 20 meters
antenna acts as rotary dipole.
Up to 20 dB
Up to 30 dB
Accepts up to 1 1/2 in (38.1 mm) mast. Light enough to be turned with a TV rotator.
831 North Central Avenue Wood Dale Illinois 60191-1219 Telephone 630@238@1183 Facsimile 630@238@1186 www.bencher.com
VI00159Z 080899-1-
BEFORE YOU START
WARNING: INSTALLATION OF THIS PRODUCT NEAR POWER LINES IS DANGEROUS.
FOR YOUR SAFETY FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
WARNING: AT NO TIME DURING ASSEMBLY, INSTALLATION, ADJUSTMENT, OR
OPERATION SHOULD ANY PART OF THIS PRODUCT BE ALLOWED TO COME INTO
CONTACT WITH ELECTRIC POWER LINES, NOR SHOULD THIS PRODUCT BE
INSTALLED IN SUCH A WAY THAT ANY PART OF IT MAY CONTACT POWER LINES
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OR IN THE EVENT OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE.
FAILURE TO EXERCISE EXTREME CARE IN THIS MATTER CAN RESULT IN
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH.
Before you start assembling the antenna, read through the instructions completely, paying special attention
to the pictorial diagrams. When you unpack the box, do so on a surface where you will not lose the small
parts. Check the parts against the PARTS LIST, identifying each part carefully.
NOTE: Check to see that all parts are present before beginning assembly.
NOTE: 3/4" screws unless directed to use other sizes.
INSTALLATION NOTES
CHOOSING AN INSTALLATION SITE: As with all directional antennas, care must be taken in the
choice of an installation site for your HF5B. Pick a place clear of power lines or other obstructions. The
HF5B should be mounted at least 30 ft (9.1 m) above the ground for proper operation. It should be able
to rotate without hitting anything. Finally, it should not be near any large masses of metal, like metal
roofing or siding. Plan your installation so that metallic guy wires are broken up with compression
insulators and no other antennas are nearby (like dipoles mounted right under the beam).
BALUNS: The sole purpose of the coaxial line "choke" balun shown in the instructions is to keep RF
current from flowing on the outside of the coaxial feed line. It does NOT transform impedances. This
form of balun has been featured in the ARRL Antenna Book for 40 years or more and it still works fine.
It also costs next to nothing. If, for some reason, you wish to use a commercially manufactured 1:1 balun
instead, make sure that it is installed BEFORE you do the "near ground" SWR adjustments on the driven
element. Most baluns will introduce odd bits of reactance into an antenna to which they're connected, and
that can throw off the tuning of a driven element that was adjusted with another balun in place or with no
balun at all.
MASTS AND GUYING: In order to avoid coupling between antenna elements and guy wires that can
detune the antenna it may be necessary to break up the guy wires with insulators. The typical metal "slipup" mast calls for a set of guys every ten feet or so, and that usually means a set close to the top of the
mast in order to steady the rotor and the antenna. If the separation between the antenna and the highest
set of guys is less that about 15 ft (4.6 m) it would be a good idea to use insulators on each of the
uppermost guys at intervals of 10 ft (3 m) or so. Place the first insulator on each guy AT THE MAST
OR TOWER, for that too is a conductor that can be coupled to the antenna by any horizontal or nearhorizontal guy wire connected to it. One or two insulators per guy wire should suffice because the HF5B
elements extend only a little more than 6 ft (1.8m) from the mast, and any coupling to the guy wire past
the second insulator will be negligible.
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PARTS LIST
A. V00010 TUBE A — 72 in x 1 1/8 in (1.8 m x 28.6 mm) 4
V00011 TUBE A INSULATOR 2
B.
C. V00012 TUBE C — 72 in x 1/2 in (1.8 m x 12.7 mm) 4
D. V00014 WIRE 8
E. V00015 BRACKET END CLAMP E — 1 1/8 in x 3/16 in (28.6 mm x 4.8 mm) 4
F. V00018 BRACKET END CLAMP F — 3/8 in x 3/16 in (9.5 mm x 4.8 mm) 4
V00020 CLAMP SPACER G 4
G.
V00028 TUBE H — 36 in x 3/8 in (91.4 cm x 9.5 mm) 1
H.
I. V00029 TUBE I — 24 in x 3/8 in (61 cm x 9.5 mm) 1
V00030 TUBE J — 72 in x 3/8 in (1.8 m x 9.5 mm) 1
J.
V00031 STUB K U-SHAPED — 4 7/8 in (12.4 cm) long 1
K.
V00032 STUB L U-SHAPED — 7 1/4 in (18.4 cm) long 1
L.
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PARTS LIST
M. V00033 STUB M U-SHAPED — 23 3/8 in (59.4 cm) long 1
N. V00034 STUB N U-SHAPED — 26 1/4 in (66.7 cm) long 1
V00040 CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY 1
0.
P. V00065 COIL P DRIVEN ELEMENT MATCHING 1
V00024 COIL CLAMP Q MATCHING — 1/4 in x 3/8 in (6.4 mm x 9.5 mm) 2
Q.
R. V00059 TUBE R — 72 in x 1 1/8 in (1.83 m x 28.6 mm) 1
S. V00067 PLATE BOOM TO ELEMENT 2
T. V00068 PLATE BOOM TO MAST 1
V00051 U-BOLT 1 in x 1 3/4 in (25.4 mm x 44.5 mm) 4
U.
V. V00052 U-BOLT 1 1/8 in x 2 in (28.6 mm x 50.8 mm) 10
W. V00053 U-BOLT 1 1/2 in x 2 3/4 in (38.1 mm x 69.9 mm) 2
V00054 BACKING CLAMP 1 1/8 in #308 (28.6 mm) 10
X.
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PARTS LIST
Y. V00055 BACKING CLAMP 1 1/2 in #309 (38.1 mm) 2
V00057 LOCK WASHER 1/4 SPLIT RING 18-8 32
Z.
AA. V00056 NUT 1/4-20 HEX 18-8 32
BB. V00061 BUTTER-IT’S-NOT 1
CC. V00063 CAPACITOR CC 10/15M REFLECTOR 1
V00062 CAPACITOR EE 10/15/20M 3
EE.
FF. V00064 CAPACITOR FF 12/17M DRIVEN ELEMENT 2
V00044 CAPACITOR CLAMP HH — 1 1/8 in x 1 in (28.6 mm x 25.4 mm) 5
HH.
V00021 CAPACITOR CLAMP II — 5/8 in x 3/8 in (15.9 mm x 9.5 mm) 4
II.
V00026 CAPACITOR CLAMP JJ — 1 in x 3/8 in (25.4 mm x 9.5 mm) 1
JJ.
KK. V00022 CAPACITOR CLAMP KK — 3/16 in x 5/8 in (4.8 mm x 15.9 mm) 1
V00060 ROD LL 12M — 28 in x 3/16 in (71.1 cm x 4.8 mm) 1
LL.
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PARTS LIST
MM. V00017 ROD CLAMP — 1 1/8 in x 3/16 in (28.6 mm x 4.8 mm) 1
V00045 ROD CLAMP NN — 1 1/8 in x 3/16 in (28.6 mm x 4.8 mm) 1
NN.
00. V00023 COIL/CAPACITOR CLAMP OO 17M — 1/4 in x 5/8in (6.4 mm x 15.9 mm) 1
PP. V00066 COIL PP 17M 1
QQ. V00025 COIL CLAMP QQ 17M — 1/4 in x 3/8 in (6.4 mm x 9.5 mm) 1
RR. V00050 KONNEKTOR-KOTE (1 X 8") .05
V00082 HARDWARE PACKAGE 1
SS.
BUTTERFLY™ ELEMENT ASSEMBLY
The Butterfly™ elements will be assembled first, tuned and then attached to the boom. The fully
assembled antenna may then be installed on the mast. Although the antenna may rest on the ground for a
short time, it’s best to have your mast and rotor in place before assembly. NOTE: Mast, rotor and
supporting structure are not included with the antenna.
1. Insert a 1 1/8" U-bolt (V) through backing clamp (X),
then through the center holes of spreader tube (C).
Slide the U-bolt over the end of element tube (A) that
does not have the hole in it. The backing clamp (X)
should now be sandwiched between element tube (A)
and spreader tube (C). Position the edge of backing
clamp (X) 3/4 in (19 mm) from the end of element
tube (A). Secure the assembly with two 1/4" lock
washers (Z) and two 1/4" hex nuts (AA) finger tight.
Place the “T” formed in step 1 on a flat surface with the threaded end of U-bolt (V) facing up. A couple
of wood blocks may be used under spreader tube (C) to provide support.
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Insert one end of element tube insulator (B) into element tube (A) and align the holes. Insert a 1
2.
1/2" bolt, from the bottom, through element tube (A) and element tube insulator (B). Lay out two
spreader wires (D) and place one lug of each over the 1 1/2" bolt. Secure with a lock washer and
hex nut.
Insert a 3/4" bolt from the bottom of spreader tube (C). Place the remaining lug of one of the
3.
previously attached spreader wires (D) over the 3/4" bolt and secure with a lock washer and hex
nut.
Repeat step 3 for the remaining spreader wire (D) for the other end of spreader tube (C). Make a
4.
final alignment of tubes, U-bolt and spreader wires. Both spreader wires (D) should be on the same
side of element tube (A) as spreader tube (C). A slight bowing of spreader tube (C) should be
expected and will not hurt anything.
NOTE: BE SURE THAT THE ALIGNMENT OF ELEMENT TUBE (A) AND SPREADER TUBE
(C) IS CORRECT BEFORE PROCEEDING BECAUSE WHEN THE U-bolt IS FINALLY
TIGHTENED, ELEMENT TUBE (A) WILL DISTORT JUST ENOUGH TO FIX SPREADER TUBE
(C) INTO PLACE!
Tighten 1/4" hex nuts (AA) until they are flush with the end of U-bolt (V). Tighten the three hex
nuts securing spreader wires (D).
5. Assemble a second element tube (A), spreader tube (C), U-bolt (V) and spreader wires (D) as in
steps 1 through 4, attaching it to the other end of element tube insulator (B). This will form a
complete Butterfly™ element.
NOTE: MAKE SURE THE CAPPED ENDS OF SPREADER TUBE (C) ARE BOTH POINTING IN
THE SAME DIRECTION.
Repeat steps 1 through 5 to assemble a second Butterfly™ element.
6.
This completes the first part of the assembly process. Check your work to see that all parts are properly
aligned and all hardware is tight.
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FOUR-WAY CLAMP ASSEMBLY
1. Using 3/4" bolt, attach plastic spacer (G) to bracket end clamp (E)
and secure with lock washer and hex nut.
Attach the other end of plastic spacer (G) to end clamp (F) with a
2.
3/4" bolt and secure with lock washer and hex nut as shown.
3. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the remaining 3 clamp assemblies.
DRIVEN ELEMENT ASSEMBLY
When you install clamps in the following steps, apply a light coating of Butter-It’s-Not™ anti-seize/oxide
paste at the spot where the clamp attaches to the tubing. A paper towel or cotton swab may be used for
this purpose. Do not overdo it! Too much will cause problems later on.
Take either of the completed Butterfly™ elements and place it on a flat surface, using wood blocks
1.
for support at the ends. The threaded end of U-bolt (V) and spreader wire (D) should be facing
down.
Place a 4-way clamp around the left element tube (A) 4 1/2 in (11.4 cm) from element tube
2.
insulator (B). Secure with a 1" bolt, lock washer and hex nut.
3. Install tube (H) on the left side of the element as shown making sure that the end with the hole is
facing element tube insulator (B). Secure it with 3/4" bolt, lock washer and hex nut finger tight.
Position capacitor clamp (HH) 41 in (1 m) from 4-way clamp on the left element and secure it with
4.
1" bolt, lock washer and hex nut.
5. Position capacitor clamp (II) 30 in (76.2 cm) from 4-way clamp on tube (H) and secure it with 3/4"
bolt, lock washer and nut.
Install capacitor (EE) into the capacitor clamps installed above and secure it with 3/4" bolts, lock
6.
washers and hex nuts.
Using the chart below, position the u-shaped stub (M) on the 4-way clamp located on the left
7.
element and secure with 3/4" bolts, lock washers and hex nuts.
Band Segment (20 Meters) Spacing
Low (CW) Segment 18 3/4 in (47.6 cm)
Middle Segment 18 in (45.7 cm)
High (Phone) Segment 18 in (45.7 cm)
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